Many practice management articles, seminars, and newsletters
suggest involving staff members in the practice in a more meaningful way, yet
practical ideas of how to do so are often omitted from such advice. Please keep
reading---you’ll find two easy-to-implement, practical ideas for use in your office.
Strong interpersonal communications with your team plus
demonstration of your appreciation for them is a vital ingredient to having the
BEST practice staffed by the BEST dental team. In short, one can say, the
health and well-being of your practice is a direct reflection of the health and
well-being of the teamwork spirit and sense of positive morale among your staff.
During my 35 years of consulting, I’ve observed dentists
saying, “You matter. You are important. I appreciate you and respect your
professional skills.” to their staff in scores of ways. Here are descriptions
of two ways that are most effective for team building and morale boosting. I’ve
added the titles to the programs that these dentists began in an effort to
strengthen every aspect of their practice.
Shopping Marathon:
Tell your staff several weeks in advance that patients will not be scheduled after
lunch on a certain day, adding that staff members should get ready for a fun
surprise that afternoon. Excitement will build as they wonder, “What’s up?”
Prepare envelopes addressed to each team member by name,
stuffed with a $100 bill. When the afternoon arrives, have transportation ready—a
chartered van or a limousine makes the occasion even more memorable. Give
instructions as you distribute the envelopes:
“Staff, your shopping marathon
begins at precisely ___PM at the mall (or favorite area shopping center). Everyone
has one hour to spend their “I appreciate you” gift. At ___PM, one hour after
beginning, you are to meet at the same place from which you started. You’ll be
brought back to the office after a quick stop for one more treat. One requirement—all
money is to be spent on you only. Money not spent will go into the office
cookie jar to be used on a future team event.”
On the way back to the office, stop for a special treat,
whatever your team would enjoy as a perfect end to a perfect surprise. This
generous, over-the-top adventure will foster enthusiasm and motivate your staff
members for months.
Paycheck Plus: The
dentist in one of the best-managed practices with which I have worked meets
payroll every two weeks. With each paycheck, he includes a small inexpensive
token, just a little extra that demonstrates to staff, “I thought about you and
want to tell you via a small gift in addition to your paycheck that I value and
appreciate you.” He’s given things such
as a single flower, a pack of sugar-free gum, a glass forever-use emery board,
a candy bar, a Starbucks gift card, a small inspirational book, a huge deli
pickle in a plastic baggie, a movie ticket, on and on.
Obviously he has repeated many of the gifts over the
years, but that’s beside the point. The point is the message his team members
receive, no matter what the gift or its cost. Month after month, year after
year with the small token in addition to each paycheck, he emphasizes that he
spent time and effort doing something nice for the group. Furthermore, he cares
about each person on the team and is sincerely grateful for their loyalty to
the practice and their outstanding care and concern for patients, for him, and
for each other.
Incidentally, this dentist has a number of team members
who have remained dedicated, skilled, caring employees for his entire practice
life. Turnover in that office is rare. Whenever a staff member does resign, it
is for a personal reason such as a move, a health issue, retirement, etc. That
team is among the most loyal and enduring I’ve seen. Suggestion: take a lesson
from this colleague. Try such programs (plural) in your office. The practice as
well as the team will move light years ahead of the norm. A bonus---the ambience
in your office will just feel good.
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